Vettel claims 4th straight F1 world title in India

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany waves to the crowd after winning the Indian Formula One Grand Prix and his 4th straight F1 world drivers championship at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida, India, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Starting from pole, Vettel dominated the Buddh International Circuit to join F1 greats Juan Miguel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as just the third driver to win four consecutive championships. The only other driver to win four championships was Alain Prost.

"You've won it in style," an elated Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Vettel over the car radio immediately after the race. "Brilliant stuff. You've joined the greats."

Vettel finished almost 30 seconds ahead of second placed Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, with Lotus driver Romain Grosjean taking his second straight third place after starting from 17th on the grid.

After taking the checkered flag, Vettel performed several donuts on the track before climbing from his car, acknowledging the crowd and kneeling with his head bowed to the track. He then climbed the pit lane fence to embrace members of his team.

"I'm overwhelmed, don't know what to say," he said immediately after the race. "It is one of the best days of my life.

"I think back about where I started, when F1 was so far away. I have so many people to thank from go-carting to junior categories of F1," he added. "I always tried to listen, learn. It has been incredible to compete against the best, it is a very tough field, and come out on top of the world."

With Vettel's win, Red Bull has also claimed its fourth straight constructor's title, despite losing Mark Webber to mechanical problems while in second place.

Vettel, at 26 the youngest driver to win four world titles, has now won 10 races this season, including the last six. He has won all three Indian GP races from pole.

A clearly emotional Vettel, taking occasional swigs from his celebratory magnum of champagne, thanked his team, his family, spoke of his respect for the Indian people and rivals including Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Webber in a post-race media conference.

"To win four titles, I don't know, it's just a big number you know? Four titles," he said. "Fangio put the number of five titles and everybody appreciated him as the best driver in the world. Michael (Schumacher) came along ... it's incredible that one guy managed to score more championships than (Fangio) did.

"I'm way too young to know what it means (to win four titles). ... It's difficult to realize something that nobody can take away from you basically."

Starting on the quick but fragile soft tires, Vettel lasted just one lap before switching to the medium compounds, emerging from the pit lane in 17th place.

With Webber in the lead, Vettel wove his way back toward the front, gradually narrowing the gap to the lead and passing second placed Perez on the 22nd lap to move into second.

Once Vettel overtook Perez, it was only a matter of time before Webber would be forced to change tires and relinquish the lead. Webber eventually entered the pits for his first tire change to soft tires on the 29th lap.

Vettel made his second and last stop on the 32nd lap to take on new medium tires, returning to the track just over eight seconds behind Webber.

Webber failed to make up enough time on the soft tires before switching back to mediums two laps later, effectively handing the race to Vettel.

"I'm not that old yet, I have goals, maybe in 10 years' time, I'll understand what we have done," Vettel said.

Red Bull ordered a stunned Webber to stop while in second place on the 42nd lap due to a problem with his car's alternator.

"Disappointing, but there's not much I can do," Webber said. "There was something wrong with the car, so we had to stop straight away."

With the Australian out, the race became a tussle for the lesser podium places, with pacesetting Rosberg passing Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen for second on the closing laps.

Grosjean drove a dogged race to defy the odds and reach the podium after being eliminated in the first qualifying session Saturday.

"The car came back in the race, our strategy was good," he said. "It was tough, I'm very proud."